Football

Tennessee tabs Jeff Jarnigan as Neyland Stadium's PA announcer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee has hired Jeff Jarnigan as Neyland Stadium's public address announcer following the April death of Bobby Denton, who filled that role for the past 48 years.

In a school release announcing the move Thursday, Jarnigan called it "an honor beyond my wildest dreams" and said "it is impossible to replace Bobby Denton. His voice and delivery has been as much a part of Big Orange Saturdays as the Vol Walk, running through the 'T' and 'Rocky Top.'"

Denton, who was 73, died on April 9.

Jarnigan has been the Tennessee men's basketball public address announcer for the past nine years. He has been public address announcer for Tennessee's spring football game the past eight years. He spent 12 years announcing for Tennessee's Pride of the Southland marching band.